Plant & Tree Care Instructions
We have a 30-day limited plant warranty from the date of installation.
If a plant dies in that timeframe, it will only be replaced one time.
I’m here to help, but I need you to check regularly to make sure they stay healthy.
Call or text me if you have any concerns about the health of your plants after reading this. I’m here to help if you have any questions.
How to Protect Plants
Deer & Animal Spray & Pellets
Use to keep deer and rabbits from eating plants. For the spray, use on leaves every two months or after rain. Pellets can be used at the base of the plant and only needs to be used once every 2 months.
Links:
Bonide-Repels-All-Animal-Repellent
Bonide-Repels-All-Animal-Repellent-32-oz
NEEM OIL: Organic Spray ( Safe for pets & children )
Neem Oil kills insects and treats black spot/fungus.
Bonide-Neem-Oil-32-oz-Spray-Multi-Purpose-Fungicide-Insecticide-and-Miticide
MALATHION SPRAY:
Treats spider mites: tiny reddish insects that eat any evergreen needle (ex dwarf alberta spruce, blue spruce, pines, etc. If you see needles start to turn rust colored and/or fall off your evergreen trees, please immediately start spraying with malathion.
Spider mites can kill a tree completely in only a few days. The insects are so small you won’t see them. If you have this type of tree, you should keep a bottle of this on hand.
I check my evergreens almost every day when I walk to my mailbox! You’ll need the concentrate and a spray bottle.
Link: https://a.co/d/eqmfpy5
Link: https://a.co/d/eQXrOMN
Feeding Plants
MIRACLE-GROW SPRAY:
Attach the device to your hose and feed your flowers during blooming season or when you need extra growth.
Link: Miracle-Gro-64-oz-All-Purpose-Plant-Food-Fertilizer
AZALEA FOOD:
Great for acid-loving plants: azaleas, camellias, gardenias, loropetalum, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, etc.
(If you feed Encore Azaleas, you can get Spring, Summer, and Fall blooms)
Link: Vigoro-Azalea-Camellia-and-Rhododendron-Plant-Food
ROSE FOOD:
If you feed your roses during the blooming season, you’ll get more blooms!
Link: VigoroAll-Season-Rose-Plant-Food
EVERGREEN FOOD:
Evergreen plants such as emerald-green arborvitae, golden mops, blue spruce, etc., need food and added nutrition as well.
ANY TREE/PLANT FOOD:
This is my favorite all-purpose fertilizer! If your plant isn’t missing any specialized nutrients, this is the way to go!
Watering Guide
DECIDUOUS PLANTS - ( WITH LEAVES )
HOT WEATHER
-First 2 Weeks: Water twice a day
-Third & Fourth Week: Water once a day
-Keep watering once a day until cooler weather.
COOL WEATHER
-Water once a day for a month, then wean off gradually: Every other day, Then every third day, etc Until plants maintain their color on their own.
-If leaves start to curl or get crispy, or plants start to droop, water more frequently.
-The water should soak down well to the roots. Make sure it gets wet enough. ( If it rains really well, you don’t need to water that day. )
EVERGREEN PLANTS: WATER GUIDE
- Juniper-type plants such as: Emerald green arborvitae, golden mops, pine trees, etc don’t like too much water.
-Water Guide: Once a day for the first week, then start weaning to every other day, then every 3rd day
Overwatering will kill plants just as quickly as underwatering. Make sure your sprinklers and drip irrigation aren’t running too long or with too much pressure.
TREE CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Deep watering(15-20 minutes of a slow drip) is better than shallow watering for trees.
Deep watering is key. You need to water only at the root, and lay a hose for a MINIMUM of 15-20 minutes at the roots, and set an alarm.
The water should have a very gradual flow. It’s best to get drip irrigation installed if you can (our team can install this), so you don’t forget to water your new plants when life gets busy.
Watering Schedule:
Water every day for the 1st week, then every other day the 2nd week, then every 3rd day the third week, and keep it up until fall with cooler weather. As long as trees get watered deeply and regularly, they will be fine no matter when they are planted.
When heavy rains occur, skip that watering and count 3 days again. Light rains or drizzles do not count. The rain must be heavy enough to get to the roots.
Don’t overwater (flood trees).
Be just as careful about underwatering as overwatering. If you insert your finger near the trunk and the dirt is dry, it’s underwatered. If it’s muddy, it’s overwatered. Trees are very sensitive to water levels. Keep checking once a week and watch the trees' color, etc. If anything changes in their health, please let me know ASAP.
LOOK FOR SHOCK:
Leaves falling off, curling, or turning yellow. If any of this happens, you need MORE water ( let me know if you’re unsure).
Getting established takes 1-3 months in the Fall & Winter, but can take the entire warm season until the cooler months arrive for a tree planted in Spring & Summer.
It’s good to feed the trees and add 10/10/10 all-purpose fertilizer at the roots for regular trees or evergreen food for evergreen trees for faster/better growth.
Waiting too long to check on any plant that’s suffering can be fatal to your plant. It’s normal for the trees to have a little bit of plant “shock” when newly planted and to have some leaves that turn yellow or brown. Please trim off any dead leaves, as this will save the plant energy.